Development of Fluorescent Probes for Rapid Detection of Formaldehyde in Food

Formaldehyde in food has aroused health concerns in general public. To protect public health, governments and worldwide health organizations have established regulations and guidelines on it. However, formaldehyde has been illegally added to food for preservation and bleaching. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography are typical analytical methods for formaldehyde measurement, but they require expensive instruments and sophisticated operational skills that are not suitable for on-site detection. In collaboration with Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ) of China, PolyU’s fluorescent probes test is the first visual detection method for formaldehyde with excellent selectivity via a gold(III) complex-mediated three component coupling reaction of resin-linked sterically bulky amines and fluorescent alkynes. This opens up a new direction for the development of rapid on-site detection of formaldehyde with diverse applications.